Description: Billy Kane shows up to kill some crooks that Gen already assassinated. They fight, and talk about life, the universe, and EVERYTHING.
'All is well' is probably a phrase that's never been accurately applied to Southtown. Or at least, not in a very long time. As Gen and Lee Pai Long discussed not long ago, however, the Syndicate has hardly been toppled, as popular sentiment decrees... but simply changed forms. One monster, replaced with another. Many of the same issues of corruption, violence, extortion and death still plaguing the streets. Plenty still seeking a piece for themselves, testing the resolve of the new czar... and Kain's reach. Chinatown is one area of the city where the Syndicate has always faced resistance from organized and less-organized groups, Triads and Tongs big and small, and gangers who'd like to consider themselves thus. Of late, however, a sort of enforced peace has been spreading over the largely disenfranchised population, a feudal sort of force exerting itself unseen over shopkeepers, residents... few have taken notice yet, becuase it's a quiet thing. No innocent bodies, no particularly loud noises, no hostile uprisings. One of the oldest, and most powerful Triads simply stretches forth its grasp through the hands of its street boss, and the shadowy, all but unknown ghost of the Chinese underworld, the world's number one killer. The man known as Gen.
Just which 'Gen' is the proper assassin is a matter of much debate for groups worldwide. Just what he looks like, just how he kills... for obvious reasons, it hasn't been widely reported. So it was that a particularly volatile gang of would-be self-starters calling themselves the White Mountain Triad laughed at the 5'5" old man who came sauntering into their base demanding they lay down their arms and return to peaceful existence. So it was that they laughed harder when that man told them that the cost of defiance would be death to any who resisted using lethal force. So it was that, about five minutes ago, everyone in the building died, alone and in pairs.
So it is now that said diminutive Chinese master sits on a barstool in the now-vacated private lounge, his lieutenants talking with the few associates who survived about their new allegiance in the next room, smoking an old, curving wooden pipe calmly. All over the room are bodies, some even managed to get their guns out. Silly men and their silly crutches.
Many people had in mind that Billy was a hero to Southtown, a champion of the downtrodden, common people who endured harsh living conditions. And all those people that knew the true identify of the King of Fighter might of been surprised to find out that is actually the case. He is a hard survivor, with family he loves, and who loves the genuine fame and adoration that comes with his position as an international fighter. Regardless of the state of the Syndicate, there are many hard limits to what he will tolerate. Kain is not one to abuse the innocents, which is why he has never tried to imitate Terry and hurl him off a building... at least, in any manner worse then what Geese allowed. Darwinism is just fine to him, it's purposeful abuse by those in power he will never tolerate
And this White Mountain Triad caught the attention of more then one individual. The news reported a man walking home had been beaten and hospitalized in a gang assault. It happened to be a man Billy knew, who worked hard for his family, his only relief coming from being bought drinks now and then by a famous local fighter. Fate has pulled two cords together, but ones that are quite contrasted in both purpose and discretion.
The front door to the private lounge suddenly explodes inwards, hinges shattered. It bounces to a stop, and a fully dresed Billy Kane slithers within, crimson bo staff resting on his shoulder. "Hey hey hey!" he states, the tone rather sadistic to say the least. "I..." He catches sight of the crimson, looking over the many dead figures. "The hell?" He sounds surprised, but in a kind of average way. Like if he expected one thing and saw another. The fact that countless death is splayed before him appears to give no additional weight. Glaring eyes take in Gen and the others still living. "You guys with these Mountain boys...?" If there was some kind of fatal gang war, he'd be happy enough to finish off the winners. Gen initially gets glanced over, before Billy's eyes snap back to him, squinting. He immediately realizes the man is something Special. Well, anything less, and he'd not be worth his fame.
Amusingly, Gen and Billy's reasons for wanting these upstarts out of the way are much the same. The hospitalized youth is just the tip of the iceberg. The elder assassin had discovered any number of murders and brutalizations tied back to this team, violent men who think the swiftest path to power is to subdue everyone who would challenge it. There happens to be a number of fairly profound roadblocks to that approach, however. One of them being the day that one's efforts run up against someone who disagrees... and can back it up. Billy's booming entrance doesn't so much as inspire a flinch from the deceptively small old master, who simply puffs smokerings from his pipe and eyes Billy evenly, his eyes still blank, filled with the powerful control of his own internal chi. Gen chuckles, silently, shoulders quaking subtly.
Looks like that roadblock was hit /twice in one day/ for these fellows. Amusing. Where Billy is elemental fire, intense, willful, even overwhelming to some... Gen does not initially seem, to most, as dangerous as he is. His aura is quiet, all but entirely internal. At first glance, it's quite easy to mistake him for a weak old man. That power sings quietly, deeply, the whistle of a breeze that descends into the deepest chasm, slowly building volume and force... though the maelstrom remains entirely underground, all but unheard save for its gusting hints. How deep those caverns run, how much power this tabula rasa of an old man holds... well. That's a difficult guess even for the very analytical. Part of why he functions as well as he does in his chosen career. "Hardly." Gen scoffs in answer, eyeing the fallen all around him. Some are indeed bleeding, some seem to have accidently shot one another. Others are just... dead. Blood leaking from lips or nose, out the ears, darkening clothes. An autopsy would reveal many mysteriously ruptured organs, but these men will never have an autopsy, never be seen in a police or coroner's report, if Gen's people have their way. The last lieutenant, an old student of the elder master's, exits the room through an ornate, oriental curtain at a gesture from Gen, and the world's most infamous killer hops down onto his short legs, off the too-tall barstool. The pipe is set aside.
"The people of this neighborhood... this /city/... too much trouble heaped upon their doorstep already, I feel." Gen explains, after a fashion. "Too much weight they had no hope of bearing, like trying to strengthen a child by dropping a large rock on its head." This doesn't work. Trust him. "It led to a... rather inaccurate view of their own strength, this failure is like the blossoms of a thousand cherry trees, its impact seen by all touched by them... and then the fools themselves." Hmph. Gen strokes his long, stark white beard once, evenly, and takes a few steps forward, "And why are /you/ here, Billy Kane? Knight of a corrupt system. Following your last direction for lack of a new course?"
What Billy saw is nothing so overt as analysis and experience. If he relied only on that, he would of dismissed Gen with ease. But that animal instinct, the hackles in the back of his neck, the gnawing sense of unease, he can hear far better then most. For all his power, he never became complacent about his own body, something that has served him well. It was simple, basic instinct. "Figured." Billy grunts, watching the man leave. "Ya ain't got the air of someone who kills for pleasure." Indeed, he knows of the Triads. There was always a very clear understanding between them and the Syndicate. The fact there is some greater power controlling them is fully understood, although he personally had no knowledge of the specifics. He never really cared, to be honest. Yet it's simple to tell that the man here is part of that oversight committee... a good thing, to see that they aren't just all talk. Geese was a wise man, mayhaps, to always keep relations peaceful.
"Whatever doesn't kill ya only makes ya stronger." Billy replies smoothly. "But I'm not one to allow predators to ruin that happy little cycle. One thing to struggle with no job, or addiction, or bad luck. Another to not even be able to walk home when trying your damndest." His grip on his staff is rather firm. Fingers flex, before he shifts the weapon off the shoulder and the end thumps into the ground. A clear sign of him dropping any potential fighting pose.
"Last direction?" There's a dangerous flare in his eyes. Gen might find it amusing. Here is someone he cannot cow down or intimidate, despite Billy having an inkling of his power. But Gen is a very intelligent man. Even were Billy clearly an inferior, he never would. Something most respect... after all, within that is the strongest loyalty possible in this world. "This is my city, and it always will be. It's your kind that didn't have to come here... If you stepped foot in Southtown like this before... well. You wouldn't."
Instinct would definitely tend to support the idea that one was facing off against a predator, and one used to being at the top of the food chain. Billy's intuition serves him well, there, even if there's absolutely nothing innately threatening about Gen's motions or actions, just now. Moments earlier, however... well. What happened here does indeed tell a different sort of story. "Who says I kill at all?" Gen muses with a wry sort of smirk, out one corner of his mouth. "I simply help the stubborn and the foolish to the destiny they have already defiantly selected. Those who ignore the risks, who ignore common sense, who ignore the universe itself for their own selfishness and ego, well. If it were not me, if it was not me, it would be someone else." At this, an illustrative gesture is offered to Billy. The legendary shadow boss sees such a similar purpose in SouthSynd's determined ronin.
"Triumph against the odds, overcoming a painful struggle... stronger, yes. The deceptively weak, denying the weaker their struggles in favor of avoiding their own... it is like trying to stir-fry rancid rice with rotten egg. A pathetic mockery that nurtures /nothing/." There's another derisive little grunt, and Gen paces one way, and then the other, one hand disappearing into the opposite billowing sleeve of his old world kung-fu garb, tonight a show of flowing crimson and gold fabric. "These..." A thug is turned over with a kick of one foot, lifeless, "These are not predators, Billy Kane. These are scavengers. Not like the killer who tore the rotten heart out of this city's organization, and ate it before assuming the role of the one he fought. It's an old story, I'm afraid. But really, Kane. My kind? Don't be such a racist idiot."
Gen chuckles thrice, a little too gleefully, and a touch creepily, "This is not the first time I've set foot in Southtown, and it was not /I/ who disrupted things. Unlike some, I care little for ruling the world, or seizing power from those who also possess it. What would be the fun in having all the power, I ask you? Where would be the challenge!? All these 'overlords'... so insecure. Always killing or stealing from their competition, as if the existence of other great powers diminished their own. .... as if they could ever /stop/ it." It's a fair bit more open than he normally is, perhaps. But his motives remain close to the chest.
It's immediately apparent that Billy doens't buy the idea that Gen isn't a killer, but what follows does cause him to smirk in amusement. "Helpin' people to the end destination... I like that." he offers. "I'm not the most philosophical man in the world. I just considered it takin' out the trash." Of course he actually does a lot less killing then anyone would think, at least in terms of day to day things. "I was just like them once..." Billy wonders why he is saying this to a complete stranger. Maybe because Gen of all people isn't the sort to tell. Maybe since somewhere he's pretty sure Gen already knows. "Crawlin' outta the gutter. I got given a chance, and here I am today. Everyone should have a chance. People who remove that, /I/ remove." He gestures at the broken people surrounding him. Rather basic, but obviously a strong belief nonetheless, in his own less articulate way.
"Tut, tut. I meant your kind as Triad. You are, eh?" He sounds confident enough in that for all intents and purposes saying anything contrary won't matter. But after the last part, Billy just slowly grins. "...you're talkin' like you could be one of those overlords, if you cared to. Hrrm?" He bites one of the gloves on his hand and tightens it lazily with a jerk of the head. "Lot of people say that... and the only ones who are able to, I know pretty well. You... an enigma. Could be anything. That's kinda fun, in a way. Like the world's full of mystery still. Not many people hide in the shadows who might be stronger then me, let alone on par with those 'overlords'... I can count'm on one hand."
"Some people evolve with the tides of the world, some have already set their path, their perspective, and nothing will ever change it." Gen observes. Some might lament this fact, the elder assassin just seems to think it's part of how the world works. After all, most people are idiots. "Everyone with true strength pulls themselves up from great loss, at one time or another. To triumph when one has known nothing but triumph... this is easy. It takes no force of will to bask in priviledge and ease, Billy Kane. Strength of arms, strength of spirit... these are only tested when one is outmatched, when all is lost. So it is that the wise listen, and the strong learn... while the foolish simply act, and seek to over-demonstrate what little strength they have." Again, Gen kicks over one of the dead gang members, then turns back to Billy, one stark white brow arching over an equally wintery pupiless eye.
"Not all organizations of any one label are the same, Kane." the Triad shadow-boss offers up simply, "But who is to say what any one of us could be? ... if we cared to. What lurks beneath the surface. Perhaps there's an entire town full of fighters of that calibre, how do you know? You count only those you have identified, but many with true strength do not bellow it. .... Do not /abuse/ it. If your world has lost mystery, Billy Kane, perhaps you spend too long staring at the mundane, or refusing to learn the lessons presented you." It's not exactly derisive, but more matter of fact, if a little bit dismissive of Billy. Perhaps a little too aware of his history, indeed.
"Haha... is that so? If God wasn't sendin' me all those trials to make me stronger, he's the biggest bastard I know in this world!" The rest of the statements seem to more roll off Billy's back, as he squats down and rests his weight on the toes of his feet. He's once more resting his bo staff upon a shoulder, listlessly blinking upwards at Gen. "Ya wanna know the truth? It's the first. I've been bored to shit the last year. I guess retiring and settling down just ain't for me... hell, I was looking forward to even beating up this trash. Maybe my legacy ain't over just yet." For a few moments, he just remains as he is. Before suddenly he erupts forward, surprisingly quiet about the whole deal. His bo staff whirls once overhead, before he twists around and builds up kinetic energy to lash it out at Gen. It screams through the air, enough speed behind it that it bows backwards. Truly a solid blow, one that few in the public fighting world could deal with. Throw in the ambush, and most would react in pure instinct. Yet the only reason that this might be somewhat surprising to Gen is the utter lack of killing intent behind it... it's almost playful, if such force could have that label.
COMBATSYS: Billy has started a fight here.
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Billy 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Gen has joined the fight here.
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Billy 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Gen
COMBATSYS: Gen blocks Billy's Power Strike.
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Billy 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Gen
"Or perhaps simply to destroy you. I doubt the cosmic whole really has much concern over whether one being thrives, or collapses in upon itself." The elder assassin observes with a dismissive shrug, pensively stroking his long, white beard. That one brow remains arched as Billy answers, and moves. Quiet, yes... in volume. But actions speak volumes of their own, and by the time Billy closes on Gen, his staff collides squarely with a backhand motion from the Triad legend, a solid crack that sounds more like wood on stone sounding as weapon impacts flesh that appears to be more like granite. A wide stance barely moves at all as all the force is absorbed in that single point of resilient muscle, and Gen chuckles.
"A man who prefers direct evidence." The old master observes, suddenly launching himself out from in front of Billy. At first, he seems to be jumping back up. But then, it's as if the elder assassin simply sprints forward, all but projecting himself into the air, despite his lack of footing. One arm stretches out, body bends and straightens, as both feet kick down for long, swift strides. .... across Billy's skull. It's a quick one-two that, if all goes according to plan, would see Gen hurtling at alarming speed off behind Kane, to land already twisted to face Geese's right hand man anew, "Do be gentle, my boy. You've /no idea/ the sort of arthritis flair ups I deal with."
COMBATSYS: Billy blocks Gen's Saizu.
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Billy 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Gen
"Huh." Billy comments, when his staff is stopped dead by the upfront forearm. That's all he has time for at the moment, as they clash yet again. His staff whirls once, and suddenly the middle intersects before the feet. It's struck dead center, creaking inwards at the force behind it. The Syndicate leader skids back a few inches, before Gen loses the inertia and is repelled backwards. The only true difference is that the old man doesn't end up going precisely where he wanted. "You really can stop my bo staff. Interesting. There's still strong people I haven't fought after all." There's no surprise here, beyond curiosity. "Guess ya weren't lying!!" And then he lashes out with the end of his staff, trying to slam it into Gen's throat; hooking and disorienting him just long enough to whirl overhead and slam into the ground opposite with a snarl of force!!
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Gen with Fishhook Throw.
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Billy 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Gen
"Perhaps." Gen replies, a bit intentionally enigmatic about Kane's observations. "Or perhaps you are simply out of practice!" The elder assassin seems more entertained by this challenge than threatened, though it doesn't make it hurt any less when Billy's bostaff cracks up under his jawline, and hucks the old master free, right back the way he came. Gen comes down hard back on the other side of the SouthSynd samurai, landing not so much on top of as right /through/ one of the bar's tables, all four of its legs splintering out from beneath it. The tabletop crashes squarely to the ground, shatters in a spiderweb of cracks centered where Gen lands, and simultaneously blasts /sawdust/ out from all sides, hardwood utterly pulverized by the force of the impact.
In an instant, Gen is back up on one knee, in the next, two fingers and a thumb are extended, the remaining ring and pinky finger curled towards his palm, and his hand is shooting out for Billy's heart chakra. The strike isn't so much physical - indeed, it won't leave a mark on him, but if it connects, there's a brutal shockwave of force that would collapse the chest of a lesser man, and may well send Kane skidding away from the Triad shadow boss.
COMBATSYS: Billy fails to counter Medium Throw from Gen with Fire Dragon Pursuit Cane.
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Billy 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Gen
"Hell, I KNOW I'm out of practice!" Billy grunts immediately, with really a lot less shame then perhaps he should have. Really, Billy is much the same; he's still not very hostile, for someone who's brandishing his bo staff around with full intent to be used. This is assuredly a spar, if not explicitly stated as such... unless one of them ups the ante. "...!" Billy barely had time to turn around before Gen's after him again. His bo staff flits up, but his timing is off. Damn. Well, the strength of the blow should be cut down to a thirkejgnbkejbkjew he goes down. The pain of having your heart stop for a few seconds is not easily described, but he writhes a bit before clambering away, panting heavily with sweat on his forehead. "Hoooo! That was a new one!!" He's in a defensive stance, but it's easy to analyze that's going to be rather short... he is a man who rides momentum and rhythm, and right now had it thoroughly interrupted!
Oh, was he supposed to be sparring? See, Billy attacked the elder assassin in a room full of dead bodies. Common sense says that Kane wants to be next. Alright, so maybe Gen doesn't exactly think that. He's clearly not trying to /kill/ Billy, right? In fact, he seems fairly jovial, at least as jovial as a blank-eyed criminal surrounded by dead bodies can seem. Which... really isn't super jovial at all, shut up. As his attack strikes before Kane's rebuttal, Gen takes the moment to right himself, standing up to his full, incredibly impressive 5'5" height, and brushing the wood chips off the front of his crimson kung-fu garb, the fine fabric all but pristine, still, despite his improvised trip to the floor.
"I can see why you were turned to his service, Billy Kane. But another man's purpose is never where we find our own. Why are /you/ here, boy?" Sure, Billy may be a middle aged man by most accounts, but Gen... Gen is older than he looks, and let's face it, he looks fairly old. "/Who/ are you? /What/ do you want?" White brows arch, that whispering wind that descends into the seemingly limitless chasms within the elder assassin's spirit picks up, and two fingers beckon Billy in again. "If I killed you here, what would be left of your purpose?" It's an ominous query, but there's no malice in it. Still, Gen doesn't bother to amend a 'not that I'm going to.'
COMBATSYS: Gen calculates his next move.
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Billy 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Gen
"Haha... who am I? Why...? That's a bit more private, I'm afraid... but suffice to say, I'm not ready to die just yet." He takes a few moments to brush himself off, exhaling slowly with a lazy crack of the neck. A few whirls of his bo staff follow, trying to get his sense of balance back. He has rather massive bruises where those fingers hit, if not visible through his shirt. Really, most people who had an exploding heart technique used on them might take it more offensively, but that implies that the attempt to murder failed, as opposed to not being INTENDED to kill. "Beat me, and maybe I'll offer it..." Suddenly he darts low, charging forward at Gen. But his bo staff slams into the ground, and he uses it to vault up and whirl a surprisingly high kick towards the side of his head, darting away just as nimbly. He does, after all, have a rather long range weapon, and is hardly adverse to using those advantages!
COMBATSYS: Gen interrupts Light Kick from Billy with Ouga.
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Billy 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Gen
"Each of us must be ready to die." Gen points out quietly, blank eyes tracking Billy's renewed offensive. No, he's not presented Kane with anything that he doubted the Southsynd samurai's ability to take, precisely. Not that that makes it gentler, but hey. "Leaving that which is important dependent on the future... risky, risky." Gen hmms to himself, and it's about that time that Billy's strike comes in. Gen lifts one leg, standing alarmingly stably on just the remaining appendage, and that high kick clips his skull admirably, painfully, jarringly. Of course, it throws him /way too far away/ considering the amount of force into it.
*BSSSSHHHHOOOOOOOOOONG* Gen's kung-fu slippers collide with a massive, wall-sized gong dominating the far wall of the lounge, and in an instant, he's hurtling back in at Billy far, far faster than he flew free, which let's face it - is pretty fast. The next instant, he's standing on Kane's head, both feet thrusting downward atop Billy's skull. Then, he's flipping off, the deadly, diminutive Chinese master somersaulting and landing deftly on the back of a chair, which he rides to a steady stance on the ground, arms folded across his chest. "Very well." he concedes simply. Magnanimous.
Oh, Billy is fully aware that the impact of his foot is all but useless. He's struck enough fragile old men to realize when kinetic force is being stolen and leveraged against him. This really doesn't allow him to do anything else, but testament to his awareness he tried to shift, interpose his forearm, before he's slammed in the head and crashed firmly into the ground. A sort of wheezing grunt leaves him, but he's only stunned for a few moments. "Hrmph..." As if he's going to let him, of course! Pushing to his feet, his next assault is nothing particularly fancy. He rushes forward, whirling his weapon around overhead. Before swinging viciously, the blow not particularly hard to evade. But he continues forward, free hand lashing out towards Gen's chest, trying to catch and then bodily hurl him into the wall nearby with a rather feral sounding growl!
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Billy's Medium Throw.
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Billy 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Gen
As Billy falls silent, so too does Gen, at least for the moment. While the diminutive Chinese master may indeed look fragile... at a glance... he proves anything but. Resilient to the traded force, Gen lands in a side stance, open hands weaving a deadly dance before him, open palms and fingertips that are more like lethal weapons than hands. It's a style to match. Many fighters are brutal in their execution. Many fighters are relentless in their abuse of their opponent. Few fighters really master the art of the lethal hand, the killing touch of the Assassin's Fist. It's not in the motion itself, not exactly... the way every blow rends as if free of any restraint. The way the old master moves like a man in his prime.
The elder assassin is suddenly not there, conserving motion yet stepping alarmingly quickly out of Billy's path. He then closes fast, on the inside of that stroke of bo-staff, grabbing for the British enforcer's jacket. The motion would be sudden, and as mentioned... brutal. Gen seeks to yank Billy off balance, and abruptly kick both of his knees backwards, one after another, before suddenly stepping back and leveraging the Southsynd samurai face first into the floorboards.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Billy with Houzen.
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Billy 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Gen
There are many ways of being tough. The inability to ever be directly hit, despite one's position, is likely one of the most powerful. Absorbing blows, rolling with them, partially defending, Gen might be one of the best alive at such, making the state of his phyqique all but irrelevant. Caught during the most vulnerable part of his shift, what happens might be a bit surprising. Rather then try to evade, he twists towards Gen, and his free hand reaches out to catch his shoulder. He's slammed twice in the midst, and an attempt to hurl him off-balance in exchange fails when his face once more slams upon the floor. Yet his bo staff shifted backwards... and then leaving a stain of blood he hurtles backwards, and can be seen grinning. His staff lashes out, suddenly erupting into three parts, hissing chains like a serpent as they attempt to slam heavily into Gen, as his chi ignites throughout it into a napalm-like flame. "You're not bad!! Not bad at all!!" It seems he's rather used to underdog battles, for someone of his strength... but then again, he's one of the few people alive able to spar regularly with Geese and live to tell about it.
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Billy's Blazing Cane Thrust.
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Billy 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Gen
Ah, most would make such conclusions. There's a reason Gen views many as fools! Why, the most powerful way to be tough is to be tough in all possible ways. It's simple mathematics. Though for the moment, Gen sticks with being as quick as a bolt of lightning. "You're only now getting that part?" Gen grunts softly, shaking his head disapprovingly. Still, Billy has more to give, and the elder assassin engages it readily. The rest happens in rather slow motion. Bo-staff cracks, snaps and unwinds, and the flaming column of pain rockets towards Gen. Who is suddenly airborne. Feet don't quite touch the energy of the attack, but it's as if... for a moment.. he's riding a wave unseen somewhere beyond it.
Legs bend, almost coil. He twists, and rockets down in at Billy, hands pushing off the ceiling itself. Both feet lead the attack, one for either side of the underboss' neck. The intent is to quite suddenly, and painfully flip Billy to the floor, where Gen would also land. Arms folded across his chest. Both feet on Kane's throat. It would be then that the legendary assassin would begin to stomp. Repeatedly. But even in the best (worst?) case, he'd stop before Billy couldn't breathe anymore, because he is a nice guy.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Billy with Jakouha.
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Billy 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Gen
Billy is caught dead on, as Gen slithers past another vicious strike upwards with his bo staff. He's slammed into the ground, momentarily stunned... long enough, at least, for that tapdance from hell to be launched in full force. A sort of hurking sound leaves him, and Gen likely stops because it should be impossible for him not ot be defeated. Although he rolls over almost immediately, hacking and wheezing. More surprisingly, he pushes up to his feet, staggering away and then twisting around to face Gen. "Haa... haa..." His grin hasn't been beaten out of him yet. "Shame I'm not on top of my game..." he croaks out, rubbing his throat. Before slowly beginning to spin about his bo staff. It whirls and whirls, until finally his stance shifts and he ignites both ends. A whirlwind of flame is summoned up, carefully woven into a wheel... before he hurls it towards Gen, almost filling the room, and then erupting into the fires of HELL. Or at least, it's pretty damn hot. Nobody can say he isn't thoroughly tenacious.
COMBATSYS: Gen just-defends Billy's Blazing Whirlwind Cane!
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Billy 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Gen
It's almost gleeful, the way the assassin leaps and slams feet into Billy's neck, before landing gently clear. "Isn't it always?" Gen inquires simply, taking a moment to stroke a hand along the length of his stark white beard. Blank eyes are crested by rising eyebrows, thoughtfully examining the gathering of chi for the instants it takes Billy to summon that horrific inferno. "Hnnnh..." Gen sets his stance, wide and deep, one hand clenching at his side, two fingers projected forth from the contracted form. His face twists in a teeth-clenching sneer, and with a profound rushing of air from his lungs, he blows along a strike that drives that clenched hand into the center of the conflagration.
Flames lick outwards, extinguish inwards, a swirling cyclone of cool air washing up Gen's arm, blowing back the sleeve of his robes. Those eyes narrow, and settle on Billy, "Boy, this is just a warmup." The surprisingly agile old man then rolls, right through the space previously occupied by that fireball, right in at Billy, seeking to somersault into him with a painfully alarming density, and roll out of the somersault into a crouch, jabbing those two fingers straight up in for a point under Billy's ribcage. A strike that one might think would leave an exit wound.
COMBATSYS: Billy dodges Gen's Jasen.
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Billy 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Gen
Billy looks genuinely surprised; this is not the simple act of someone on his level. Dispelling that particular assault, even at his present ability, is a phenomenal exertion that he's only seen people at Geese's level perform. But after a bit, his expression returns slowly to that grin, which seems even more intense. "Ha... hahaha! You're good! Better then me! Whew, now I won't have to blame it on bad conditioning, huh?!" Despite being on death's door, the lashing fingers are dodged with a sudden burst of adrenaline. Striking the ground with his staff, Billy launches himself airborne, whirling around and descending a distance away, catching his breath. "But I'm not gonna give up!!"
COMBATSYS: Billy gains composure.
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Billy 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Gen
"Indeed an excuse. You are formidable, Billy Kane." It's spoken respectfully, if a bit grudgingly and.. not really awed, to say the least. "But your heart bleeds into your style... fueling it. Or tainting it." The old master tracks the enforcer's motion, chuckling quietly as he draws still more defiant energy to himself... defiance matched by words and stance. "Perhaps a bit of both... at once." Gen decides. Then the elder assassin moves.
He strikes inwards and upwards at the same time, that dual-fingered stance lashing out in a reverse chop as he comes up on one foot, becoming, somehow... suddenly more immovable. The hand lashes back in, joined by the other, a quick one-two aligned for Billy's throat and kidneys.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Billy with Strong Punch.
- Power hit! -
[ \ < > ///////////////////// ]
Billy 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Gen
"Heh... something tells me you aren't the type to give merciful compliments to people you beat. But I got where I am with my heart... I'm not gonna throw it away, just since it'll make me a bit stronger...!!" The immediate instinct for Billy is to interject before that assault. But then reality settles in, and he sees both the sheer strength and power behind it. The momentary tension might actually cause a mild start with Gen -- it would of worked. Instead, the mild weakness vanishes, and becomes irrevocable strength. Billy is slammed in the throat and side, sliding backwards and teetering forward, bracing himself with a hand with a dry cough. Bleary eyes settle on the old man opposite, before he pushes forward and charges again, whirling in a flowing movement and slamming out with the haft of his bo staff. "Take... THIS!!" he offers, matter of factly.
COMBATSYS: Billy can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Gen 0/-------/------=|
And then he crashes on the ground and rolls away to a stop. He's still trying to get back up, if rather listlessly...
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Billy's Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Gen 0/-------/------=|
"Stare too long in one direction, one misses the view." Gen offers back simply, shifting back to a fluid, adaptable stance from his stalwart defense. As the final stroke crashes in, Gen chooses not to take it, but instead to slip suddenly away, standing in a flash a short span from Billy, blank eyes turned back to the underboss. As the coughing, battered lieutenant of SouthSynd succumbs to his wounds, Gen tucks one hand into its opposite sleeve, still eyeing his adversary steadily.
"My people are here largely out of curiousity, Billy Kane. We are not looking to start a new war. Particularly now, when it is all so... fascinating to watch." The small smirk the elder assassin quirks is that of a man in on a joke he knows (or thinks) no one else gets. "Whether you answer me or not, I care little. But think on what was said, and where all this.. is going."
"Haha... I never said you were here to start anything... just that I'm watching the people's backs. Maybe I was jealous you got to them first... they took out one of my friends, eh?" He manages to yank himself to his feet, spitting blood to the side. "I'm fighting for someone else. I don't give a damn where I end up in life. I lost my chance to be anything pure and good in this world. I'm going to make sure they get the opportunity I didn't." He licks at his split lip, leaning against the wall with his weight upon the staff. "Of course, that's not so hard to figure out if people look into me... but the last person who tried to leverage that against me ended up wishing they had crossed Geese instead." There's a look of pure malice at that. Indeed, Billy may be a victim of circumstances, someone who could of ended up like Terry -- a genuine hero. But he's not... and the few that fully realize that rather wish they hadn't.
COMBATSYS: Gen has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:41:00 10/28/2010 by Gen, and last modified on 23:42:53 11/08/2010.